Key Highlights
- Tribute to Bapu: PM Modi said cleanliness is "the most beautiful tribute we can pay to Bapu", days before Gandhi Jayanti on October 2.
- Youth at the front: He cited young people cleaning a river in Madhya Pradesh, old stepwells in Andhra Pradesh and beaches in Mumbai.
- Awareness drives: Children in Delhi are urging residents to segregate waste, while students in West Bengal are cleaning markets at picnic spots.
- One starts, many join: The PM said such efforts show how one person's initiative turns into public participation.
- Campaign backdrop: The remarks come during Swachhata Hi Seva 2026, themed "Swachhata Mein Sahbhag, Swachh Bharat, Viksit Bharat".
"Cleanliness Is the Most Beautiful Tribute"
With Gandhi Jayanti just days away, Prime Minister Narendra Modi used the 138th episode of 'Mann Ki Baat' on Sunday to spotlight young Indians who are cleaning up their surroundings, and to link their efforts to Mahatma Gandhi's message.
"My dear countrymen, 2nd October is just a few days away. It is the birth anniversary of our revered Bapu. Bapu gave us many mantras for life. Cleanliness is one of them," PM Modi said. He added that he had come across many such efforts on social media through pictures, videos and reels.
One Person Starts, Others Join
The Prime Minister said the common thread in these efforts was how small beginnings grow into community action. "One thing is clearly visible: one person started this, and people joined in. This is called public participation. Cleanliness is also the most beautiful tribute we can pay to Bapu."
From Rivers to Beaches: The Examples
PM Modi shared examples from different parts of the country:
- Madhya Pradesh: Youngsters are cleaning a river, with the entire community joining in.
- Andhra Pradesh: Young people are cleaning old stepwells and wells, helping restore heritage sites.
- Mumbai: "Every week, hundreds of young friends gather on one beach or another and serve through cleanliness," he said.
- Delhi: Children and young people are making residents aware of the need to segregate waste.
- West Bengal: Students, together with local people, are cleaning markets at picnic spots.
Why It Matters: From Sweeping to Sorting
The examples show how the idea of cleanliness has widened. The Andhra Pradesh stepwell drives connect cleaning with heritage conservation. The Delhi campaign focuses on waste segregation, which tackles the problem at its source rather than after garbage piles up.
That shift matches this year's national campaign. Swachhata Hi Seva 2026 began on September 17 under the theme "Swachhata Mein Sahbhag, Swachh Bharat, Viksit Bharat". It promotes cleanliness and four-way source segregation of waste, among other goals.
Youth Are Part of the Official Plan Too
The Prime Minister's focus on young people also reflects the structure of the campaign. Swachhata Hi Seva 2026 rests on five pillars: transforming Cleanliness Target Units and public places, Swachh Paathshala – Yuva for Swachhata, Safai Mitra Suraksha Evam Samman Shivir, Jan Bhagidari for Swachhata, and Swachhata Se Samriddhi.
The campaign has been observed annually since 2017 and follows a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, treating cleanliness as a collective responsibility rather than the job of any single department.
The Road to October 2
The campaign culminates with Swachh Bharat Diwas on October 2, the same day as Gandhi Jayanti. The Swachh Bharat Mission itself was launched on Gandhi Jayanti in 2014, which is why the date carries special weight for cleanliness campaigns every year.
The Prime Minister's message was that clean surroundings do not begin with a government order, but with one person picking up a broom and others following. With Gandhi Jayanti days away, his examples from beaches, rivers and stepwells offer a simple call to action for citizens across the country.
With inputs from IANS.
Key Highlights
- Tribute to Bapu: PM Modi said cleanliness is "the most beautiful tribute we can pay to Bapu", days before Gandhi Jayanti on October 2.
- Youth at the front: He cited young people cleaning a river in Madhya Pradesh, old stepwells in Andhra Pradesh and beaches in Mumbai.
- Awareness drives: Children in Delhi are urging residents to segregate waste, while students in West Bengal are cleaning markets at picnic spots.
- One starts, many join: The PM said such efforts show how one person's initiative turns into public participation.
- Campaign backdrop: The remarks come during Swachhata Hi Seva 2026, themed "Swachhata Mein Sahbhag, Swachh Bharat, Viksit Bharat".
"Cleanliness Is the Most Beautiful Tribute"
With Gandhi Jayanti just days away, Prime Minister Narendra Modi used the 138th episode of 'Mann Ki Baat' on Sunday to spotlight young Indians who are cleaning up their surroundings, and to link their efforts to Mahatma Gandhi's message.
"My dear countrymen, 2nd October is just a few days away. It is the birth anniversary of our revered Bapu. Bapu gave us many mantras for life. Cleanliness is one of them," PM Modi said. He added that he had come across many such efforts on social media through pictures, videos and reels.
One Person Starts, Others Join
The Prime Minister said the common thread in these efforts was how small beginnings grow into community action. "One thing is clearly visible: one person started this, and people joined in. This is called public participation. Cleanliness is also the most beautiful tribute we can pay to Bapu."
From Rivers to Beaches: The Examples
PM Modi shared examples from different parts of the country:
- Madhya Pradesh: Youngsters are cleaning a river, with the entire community joining in.
- Andhra Pradesh: Young people are cleaning old stepwells and wells, helping restore heritage sites.
- Mumbai: "Every week, hundreds of young friends gather on one beach or another and serve through cleanliness," he said.
- Delhi: Children and young people are making residents aware of the need to segregate waste.
- West Bengal: Students, together with local people, are cleaning markets at picnic spots.
Why It Matters: From Sweeping to Sorting
The examples show how the idea of cleanliness has widened. The Andhra Pradesh stepwell drives connect cleaning with heritage conservation. The Delhi campaign focuses on waste segregation, which tackles the problem at its source rather than after garbage piles up.
That shift matches this year's national campaign. Swachhata Hi Seva 2026 began on September 17 under the theme "Swachhata Mein Sahbhag, Swachh Bharat, Viksit Bharat". It promotes cleanliness and four-way source segregation of waste, among other goals.
Youth Are Part of the Official Plan Too
The Prime Minister's focus on young people also reflects the structure of the campaign. Swachhata Hi Seva 2026 rests on five pillars: transforming Cleanliness Target Units and public places, Swachh Paathshala – Yuva for Swachhata, Safai Mitra Suraksha Evam Samman Shivir, Jan Bhagidari for Swachhata, and Swachhata Se Samriddhi.
The campaign has been observed annually since 2017 and follows a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, treating cleanliness as a collective responsibility rather than the job of any single department.
The Road to October 2
The campaign culminates with Swachh Bharat Diwas on October 2, the same day as Gandhi Jayanti. The Swachh Bharat Mission itself was launched on Gandhi Jayanti in 2014, which is why the date carries special weight for cleanliness campaigns every year.
The Prime Minister's message was that clean surroundings do not begin with a government order, but with one person picking up a broom and others following. With Gandhi Jayanti days away, his examples from beaches, rivers and stepwells offer a simple call to action for citizens across the country.
With inputs from IANS.